This is a hybrid position which requires 8 days per month in the office. You can be based in our office in Washington DC, London, The Hague, Nairobi, or Mexico City. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission as WRI is unable to sponsor any visa work sponsorship for this position.

About the Program:

In this newly created position reporting to our General Counsel, you will support the WRI legal team on all legal issues with a focus on human resources and IP/privacy matters. This is a mid-level attorney position that requires comprehensive legal review of contracts, grants, IP licensing and leads on employee relations issues. You will work directly with the General Counsel to provide general legal support for our global nonprofit organization.

Job Highlight:

Reporting to the General Counsel, you will provide general legal guidance, provide proactive legal research and counsel to General Counsel on different legal issues, including contracts, compliance, employment law and employee relations. You will stay up-to-date on changes in laws and regulations that could impact the Institute’s operations and provide guidance on necessary adjustments. You will work with local counsel in the countries in which we work to understand foreign laws and advise General Counsel on compliance and risk mitigation strategy. You will build relationships with internal stakeholders to understand their legal needs and provide legal guidance.

What will you do:

Human Resources (50%):

• Provide legal advice and support to the Employee Relations (ER) team and the global network of HR staff on employee discipline, benefits, social security compliance and employment policies in collaboration with external counsel across all WRI locations
• Together with the ER team investigate sensitive employee relations issues and perform investigations related to employment matters
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support and maintain compliance with all relevant laws as it relates to company handbooks, policies and procedures
• Analyze ER casework trends to produce strategic recommendations to the General Counsel to develop proactive risk mitigation approaches
• Support WRI’s ethics and compliance program, promoting a culture of ethics and integrity throughout the organization
• Provide advice on visa and work authorization requests together with outside immigration counsel
• Provide advice on the WRI employer of record arrangement for contracting personnel.

Contracts, Grants, Intellectual Property and Privacy (30%):

• Review and advise on government and commercial contracts including events, consultants/vendor contracts, annexes, memoranda of understanding, non-disclosure agreements, and IP licensing agreements
• Draft and edit legal agreements such as subgrants, contracts, memoranda of agreement/understanding, and other legal agreements to ensure legal and WRI policy compliance
• Support WRI's Grants & Contracts team with agreement negotiations and development of an alternate clause library
• Advise and draft licensing agreements involving IP, including help obtain licenses to utilize 3rd party owned IP for WRI’s charitable purpose
• Advise on best practices and compliance with global privacy and data protection laws, and overseeing legal and regulatory aspects of data collection and use, privacy disclosures and transparency, and related issues with assistance from local counsel
• Provide legal oversight for various compliance areas for grants and contract review, including lobbying, relevant 501(c)(3) tax-exempt requirements, and compliance with related federal, state, and local laws and regulations

Human Resource Compliance and Risk Management (20%):

• Advise and engage with WRI’s Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) program to identify and proactively mitigate risks
• Lead or support (as appropriate) investigations and responses to legal disputes, including litigation and alternative dispute resolution
• Manage WRI’s portfolio of insurance policies including policy review, claims management, trends analysis, and the development of other risk mitigation tactics
• Provide legal advice and support to the ER team and the global network of HR staff on employee discipline, benefits, social security compliance and relevant employment policies in collaboration with external counsel across all WRI locations
• In conjunction with the ER team investigate highly sensitive employee relations issues and perform investigations related to employment matters
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support and maintain compliance with all relevant laws as it relates to company handbooks, policies and procedures
• Analyse ER casework trends to produce strategic recommendations to the General Counsel to develop proactive risk mitigation approaches
• Support WRI’s ethics and compliance program, promoting a culture of ethics and integrity throughout the organization
• Provide advice on visa and work authorization requests in conjunction with outside immigration counsel
• Provide advice on the WRI employer of record arrangement for contracting personnel

What will you need:

• Education: Juris Doctor degree (JD) from an accredited law school with an active membership and in good standing with any U.S. state bar association
• Experience: Minimum of 12 years of legal experience with preference of 3 years in advising nonprofits
• Strong expertise in contract law, corporate governance and employment law
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to convey complex legal concepts to non-legal stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to make sound legal judgments and provide practical solutions to complex legal issues
• International legal experience and growth mindset
• Familiarity with legal technology and tools to enhance department efficiency is preferred
• Languages: Fluent in English, with additional languages a plus

Potential Salary: US salary range is between 138,000 and 166,000 USD. UK: 84 - 105k GBP.NL: 92K – 115K EUR. Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors.

How to Apply: Please submit a resume with a required cover letter by the date of 5 July 2024. We are unable to consider your application without a cover letter.

You must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered.

What we offer:

• Access to the WRI global network with the opportunity to exchange with and learn from passionate colleagues working at the cutting edge of their fields across Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the US
• The chance to have an impact and to develop your career within a mission driven organization with access to varied learning and training opportunities.
• A workplace that strives to put diversity and inclusion at the heart of our work
• The opportunity to join and get involved in different working groups and affinity groups to shape the future of WRI
• Commitment to hybrid working model with flexible working hours
• Generous leave days that increase with tenure

About Us:

Founded in 1982, World Resources Institute (WRI) is an independent, nonprofit global research organization that turns big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity, and human well-being. We are working to address seven critical challenges that the world must overcome this decade to secure a sustainable future for people and the planet: climate change, energy, food, forests, water, sustainable cities, and the ocean. WRI has a global staff of over 1,800 people with work spanning 60 countries. We have offices in Africa, Brazil, China, Europe, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Colombia and the United States, as well as a growing presence in other countries and regions.

The foundation of our work is delivering high-quality research, data, maps, and analysis to solve the world’s greatest environment and international development challenges and improve people’s lives. We work with leaders in government, business, and civil society to drive ambitious action and create change on the ground. Equally important, we bring together partners to develop breakthrough ideas and scale-up solutions for far-reaching, enduring impact.

Our mission and values:

WRI’s mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth’s environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations.

Our values are shared ideals that bind us together: Integrity, Innovation, Urgency, Independence and Respect.

Our culture:

WRI is committed to advancing gender and social equity for human well-being in our mission and applies this principle to our organizational and programmatic practices. We are committed to providing equal opportunities in employment; we embrace all diversity and encourage women, the LGBTQ+ community, persons with disabilities, Afro-descendants, and Indigenous people to apply. Recognizing our strong commitment to gender equality, WRI has also been awarded EDGE certification.

Our team in Human Resources carefully reviews all applications.